Bangladesh is expected to get 1,27,92,000 (approx 12.8 million) shots of Oxford University-AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccines through the COVAX facility of World Health Organization (WHO). 

The vaccines will arrive in country within the first half of 2021, according to COVAX's interim distribution forecast, published on February 3.

The delivery is estimated to begin as of late February, subject to WHO Emergency Use Listing Procedure, manufacturing supply capacity and completion of pre-requisites.

The WHO has not yet approved the AstraZeneca vaccine – although evaluation processes are currently underway.

The distribution plan comes with lower-income countries falling behind in the vaccination race -- a problem Covax was set up to address.

It broke down how the programme's initial 337.2 million doses will be distributed, with first deliveries expected in late February.

Some 145 countries are set to receive enough doses to immunise 3.3 percent of their collective population by mid-2021, Covax said.

BDST: 1400 HRS, FEB 04, 2021
AP/SMS